5-Give Yourself a Hand

The Art 1 students deserve a round of applause for doing a great job on this project.

The plaster hand cast project touched on many art and design concepts that the students learned from previous lessons and new concepts unique to three-dimensional art. New skills included learning about and constructing a wood armature to support the sculpture, becoming familiar with a new material- plaster cloth, and how to visualize a 3D project from concept to completion. Conceptualization was important since the students were required to cast a hand in a position that would eventually hold an object symbolic of themselves. Then the final piece was painted in a manner characteristic of the theme. Artists' statements were written so that students could communicate their stories to the art audience.

Transfer of knowledge from previous projects include all of the elements of art and principles of design. In addition, "proportions" were emphasized as the students sculpted their wrists that were attached to their hands. Students had learned about facial proportions in their previous Micrography lesson.

Work in Progress:

After students completed four drawings of their hand in various poses, and one drawing holding their symbolic object, they began casting one another's hands. Good teamwork was at hand for quality results.

Once the hand was set and dry, each student put together a wood armature and built their wrist using newspaper and masking tape.

The Final Product:

Visual Arts Standards:

Observe and Learn to Comprehend

Students can create three-dimensional works of art- individually or collaboratively- that employ the characteristics and expressive features of art and design.

Inquiry Question: How will the object your hand holds impact the casting of your hand and the armature that is built to support the hand?

Relate and Connect to Transfer

Students can construct an armature and understand how structural support is needed for sculptural art and design, bridges, architecture and other 3D structures.

Inquiry Question: How does the shape of the support influence the final design?

Artist's Statement Guideline and Project Instructions are attached below.